In his mind all the kids running around with digital cameras are trust-fund babies making videos that “look like shit.” Hey, Estevan: actually, some of us are just trying to transition from day jobs into film careers — and doing a video cheaply is often how this is accomplished. In the business world it’s a standard operating procedure to undercut market prices in order to get into the game; sorry if it “fucks it up” for those of you already established, but this is how this shit works.

Plus, I’d imagine the recording industry’s financial implosion over the last decade has something to do with it; if you want to blame someone, which is exactly what you’re doing here, blame the record labels that (used to) pay you — they’re the ones making the decision to spend less on music videos (and they’re the ones who dug their own graves with years of out-of-touch decision-making). Ultimately the six-figure music video is rarer these days due to the economics behind record sales, not because some kids are ready, willing, and able to do shitty videos. On the other hand, let the hungry kids eat cake!

Considering the video series is entitled “Baller Status,” you’d think Estevan would be more sympathetic to the following mantra: can’t knock the hustle.

[via Filmmaker Magazine]